CHAPTER 4: EXISTING CONDITIONS - Fauquier County

CHAPTER 4: EXISTING CONDITIONS - Fauquier

F A U Q U I E R C O U N T Y C O N N E C T I O N S P L A N CHAPTER 4: EXISTINGCONDITIONSFauquierCounty is located primarily in the Piedmont physiographic province of Virginia, and is therefore comprised of gently rolling hills that make for excellent bicycling conditions. The northwestern part of the County lies within the Blue Ridge province and is characterized by more steeply sloping terrain – conditions which also attract bicyclists who seek more challenging climbs, as well as people who enjoy hiking the Appalachian Trail. The county is bounded on its southern edge by the Rappahannock, a scenic and historic river that is surrounded by numerous archeological and historic sites. FauquierCounty’s scenic farm country and historic small towns have long attracted recreational bicyclists and other tourists interested in weekend getaways, antique shopping and exploring civil war history. The natural beauty and high quality of life in FauquierCounty, coupled with its proximity to the Washington DC metro area, have also made it an attractive place to settle. Fast-paced residential and commercial development accompanied this population growth, particularly on the eastern half of the county. This growth has created high volumes of motor vehicle traffic, and has raised concerns about the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists. A number of Service District plans have directly addressed the need for better conditions for walking and bicycling, and have made this a key goal for future growth. One example is the Remington Service District Plan, which states that “movement throughout the community will be equally convenient for pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists.” (Remington Service District Plan, page 4.) Despite the County’s goal of clustering development within Service District areas, low density, single use development in FauquierCounty is creating a deterrent to walking and bicycling due to long travel distances between origins and destinations. Housing communities are often isolated from services, workplaces and schools, and are divided by wide arterials that are uncomfortable for walking and bicycling. Many of the existing suburban areas in the region will require retrofit to accommodate and encourage walking and bicycling, however there are opportunities to influence future developments to ensure they are designed to accommodate pedestrians and bicyclists. Existing Off-Road Trails FauquierCounty is in the early stages of developing a network of offroad trails. One of the County’s most notable trail facilities is the Warrenton Branch Greenway, which was built in 1998. This 1.5-mile Page 25